AG James Seizes Cop Murder Case!

Close-up of a gun barrel emitting smoke against a black background

A trusted Buffalo police officer allegedly gunned down his wife in their home while their two young children were present, shattering family values and raising alarms about personal accountability in law enforcement households.

Story Snapshot

Lance Woods, 53-year-old off-duty BPD officer, charged with second-degree murder after shooting 35-year-old wife Alexis Skoczylas on February 14, 2026.
Incident occurred at family home in Sanborn, NY, with children present; no prior domestic violence reports despite ongoing contested divorce filed in September 2025.
New York AG Letitia James took over under state law mandating oversight of officer-involved deaths, even off-duty; Woods used personal firearm, not department-issued.
Multi-agency response led to Woods’s swift arrest; children now with relatives, highlighting trauma to innocent families.

Tragic Incident Unfolds in Sanborn Home

Lance Woods ended his shift as a Buffalo Police Department School Resource Officer on Friday, February 13, 2026, around 4 p.m. The next day, Saturday, February 14, he allegedly shot Alexis Skoczylas once in the head at their Buffalo Street residence in Sanborn, New York. Their two children witnessed the horror in the family home. Woods, off-duty at the time, faces second-degree murder charges. This case exposes raw vulnerabilities in law enforcement families, where personal crises collide with public trust.

Swift Multi-Agency Response and Arrest

Lewiston Police conducted a welfare check around 5 p.m. on February 14, discovering Skoczylas’s body. By 1 a.m. the next morning, they contacted BPD dispatch to locate Woods’s vehicle. Amherst Police detained him during a traffic stop between 3-4 a.m. on February 15. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the arrest and arraignment that Sunday. Town of Somerset Justice Pamela Rider remanded Woods into custody. Coordinated efforts across agencies ensured rapid apprehension.

Retired BPD Captain Jeff Rinaldo praised the response’s efficiency in a February 17 interview. Local departments like Lewiston, Buffalo, and Amherst collaborated seamlessly despite the off-duty complexity. Such unity upholds law and order, a cornerstone conservative principle, even as the investigation probes deeper into family tensions.

State Oversight Triggers Under Executive Law

Executive Law Section 70-b mandates Attorney General investigation for any officer-involved death, on- or off-duty. James’s Office of Special Investigation leads, with support from Niagara County agencies. Woods joined BPD in 2008, serving as a floating school officer, but exercised Janus rights to avoid union membership, limiting support. The couple’s contested divorce, filed September 2025, preceded the shooting, yet no prior domestic calls exist. This underscores need for better personal firearm safeguards among officers.

Questions arise on BPD training for domestic issues and personal weapons access. Woods’s non-union status highlights individual choice over collective bargaining, aligning with conservative values of personal responsibility. The incident strains BPD resources amid internal review, potentially eroding community trust in law enforcement guardians.

Ongoing Investigation and Family Fallout

As of February 17, 2026, Woods remains remanded while OSI probes continue. BPD conducts an internal affairs review; his administrative leave status stays unclear. Children reside with relatives, spared further trauma. AG James thanked assisting agencies in her February 15 release. Lewiston PD promotes domestic violence hotlines and seeks tips. Presumption of innocence holds, but the case renews focus on protecting families from internal threats.

BPD statements emphasize cooperation with OSI. No contradictions mar core facts across reports, though exact shooting time varies slightly. Long-term, this may spur policy reviews on officer wellness and divorce-related risks, safeguarding traditional family structures conservatives cherish.